They Know Me Best

On today's show we have Adam Smiley Poswolsky, or just Smiley as his friends know him, and Brady Gill (also known as Honey Bear). They both met through their involvement in Camp Grounded, a camp experience built for adults to disconnect from their digitals lives and connect deeply with others looking for friendship, meaning, and fun. In some ways, you couldn't have picked a more perfect atmosphere for a friendship to blossom, and more like a tree than a flower, the friendship of Smiley and Brady has grown to tower above the ground in which is was formed. 

It's worth noting that Smiley is a renowned author and speaker on fostering belonging and connection in the digital age, and for any fan of this show, his book Friendship in the age of Loneliness is a must-read. Brady Gill is also someone who has spent his career bringing people (and companies) closer, and you can see his work and hire him for your own engagement endeavors at Bradygillplay.com.

Julia Sanders and Elle Halliburton met when they were only four years old, but almost immediately, the friendship took on a deep, sister-like connection. Throughout life they have been each other's voice (sometimes literally), a source of inspiration (Julia in the crowd while Elle rocks a mic on-stage) -- and one even found the other her now husband. They have both grappled with distance, literally and figuratively, but they've also grappled with the closeness of the relationship too. Ultimately, it's a friendship that has made their respective lives unquestionably and forever better. They truly know each other best.

By the way, if you want to check out Elle's music, aka Ms. Elle, go to msellemedia.com. Stay tuned for a new album on the horizon!

When Cassidy Blackwell and Paloma (aka Pal) Cotton-Herman first met, one was dressed as a carefully-constructed Tiffany Lamp and the other as "Coach Judy, Your High School Gym Teacher on a Date". But it turns out, that first memory would become one of many "patches on the quilt of friendship" as we'd come to characterize it on the show, and almost twenty years later, it's a quilt deeply cherished and actively maintained.

Abbey Svigelj and Angela ("Ange") Notte have known each other since they met on the basketball court at their Catholic high-school in Cleveland. But what makes this friendship so special is how trust translates into truth, and truth translates into personal discovery and growth. Among many, perhaps the most poignant part of this episode is how an invitation to an electronic music festival becomes an invitation to embrace an even deeper level of self, which ultimately brings the friendship to an entirely different plane of existence.

Melvin Sanders and Tony Romero have a relationship that is decades in the making. What is remarkable about this friendship is the depth and breadth of history it has shared. Melvin (or Mel, as Tony calls him) first met in junior high. They would go on to play college basketball together, join as coaches on that same basketball court, coach each other through life's toughest moments, and eventually, they would add fatherhood as a bonding element that continues to enhance their ever-evolving relationship today. It's this historical depth and breadth that makes the relationship rich, but as we would come to discuss, it's also the core of what keeps the friendship together.

Can you imagine a life without friendship? Sadly, that’s become the reality for more Americans than ever. A recent survey showed that nearly half of Americans report having lost touch with at least a few friends over the past 12 months. Maybe it’s the pandemic. Maybe it’s politics. Maybe it’s technology. Hosted by Elliot Darvick, They Know Me Best is a podcast on the importance of friendship and how it impacts our lives told through interviews with real life best friends.

Today’s episode we have a friendship 60 years in the making, and it’s about as pure as friendship gets: no drama, all trust, there for good times and not so good times too. The conversation also raises an interesting idea that in a world that is endlessly unpredictable, especially for executives, perhaps a “boring friendship” is exactly the anchor we need. Enjoy getting to know these best friends, Steve Trager and Sammy Schulman.

And on today’s episode we have two poetry legends, Sekou Andrews and Steve Connell. Whereas some friendships are truly just that, Sekou and Steve have a friendship that weaves together professional collaboration, creative inspiration, and joyous competition. It’s a chemistry that not only makes for a deeply bonded friendship, but artwork that has and will continue to change the world. To check out the brilliant work of Sekou and Steve, go to SekouAndrews.com and SteveConnellCreates.com

On today’s show I am joined by long-time best friends Ben Duhl and Kurt Haas. We cover a vast array of topics including the challenge of male friendship, the rare joy of having a friendship that spans multiple life phases, and what is was like to create together a feature film (Here Comes the Night). Ultimately, my biggest takeaway from this conversation was the realization that what makes for a best friend isn't just the quality of the friendship, but one person bringing out the best in the other.